Ball State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball Suffers First MAC Loss of Season to Bowling Green
September 24, 2005 | Women's Volleyball
Muncie, Ind. - - Despite an amazing 31 digs from junior libero Amanda McCormick (Muncie, Ind./Burris H.S.), the Ball State (7-5; 1-1 Mid-American Conference) women's volleyball team suffered a 0-3 (25-30, 22-30, 28-30) setback to Bowling Green (7-6; 1-1 MAC) Saturday evening at Worthen Arena.
With her 31 digs in the contest, McCormick upped her career total to 961, making her 39 shy of 1,000. The 5-8 transfer from Nebraska tallied 11 digs in the first and third games, while collecting nine in the second.
With the first game of the match seeing 41 total digs from the Cardinals, it is not surprising the senior Sarah Obras (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights H.S.) was able to become the first player in league history to post over 1,700 kills and 1,400 digs in a career, as she tallied eight in the opening set. Obras ended the evening with a season-high 22 digs to go along with nine kills, moving her career totals to 1,742 kills and 1,416 digs.
Despite posting 21 kills and 41 digs in the first frame, the Cardinals fell behind 8-1 early in the set and were never able to recover. BSU was able to close within one point at 17-16 and 22-21, but were never able to overcome the hot start from the Falcons.
In the second stanza, Ball State took its first lead of the match at 10-9 on a kill from Kirby Gibson (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson H.S.). After trading the next few points, BGSU regained the advantage at 13-12 and never trailed again, out-scoring the Cardinals 17-10 down the stretch.
The Cardinals came out strong in the third game, holding a lead for much of the early portion of the set. After a kill from
May would finish the evening with 11 kills, which tied her career-high, and four total blocks. Gibson would add seven kills, a career-best six digs and one block.
Junior Kelly Cochran (LaPorte, Ind./Michigan City Marquette H.S.) tallied her eighth double-double of the season with a match-high 12 kills and 10 digs.
Junior Heather Burleson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian H.S.) saw her first action since aggravating an injury at IUPUI, and collected four kills and four total blocks.
Senior Stephanie Bacan (Remsen, Iowa/St. Mary's H.S.) also played tough on the defensive end, tying a career-high with 17 digs.
Also factoring in the match were sophomore Angie Parrell (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights H.S.) with 42 assists, six kills and a pair of digs; senior Kristin Westhof (Fruitport, Mich./Fruitport H.S.) with two kills and a block and senior Rachel Refenes (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran H.S.) with three kills.
For the match, BSU posted a 93 to 88 advantage in digs, a 50 to 47 edge in kills and a 7-3 lead in blocks. BGSU won the hitting battle .205 to .168 and posted nine service aces compared to three for the Cardinals.
The Ball State women's volleyball team will return to action next week, when it hosts Toledo in a rare Thursday league contest at Worthen Arena. Match time is slated for
